Noise makers



Aug. 16, 1966 I. COHN v I 3,266,455

NOISE MAKERS Filed April 15, 1965 Sheets-Sheet l V N709. isv 47 F 1 7 @552 my A TTOEWEK Aug. 16, 1966 1. COHN 3,266,455

NOISE MAKERS Filed April 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. IQW/A/ (OH/V BY FQB a A TTOR/VE) 3,266,455 NOISE MAKERS Irwin Colin, 746 West St, Leominster, Mass. Filed Apr. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 448,292 10 Claims. (Cl. 116-56) This invention relates to noise makers.

An object of this invention is to provide a noise maker of the character described which may be mounted on a wheeled, manually operated vehicle such as a bicycle, and provided with means dependant upon rotation of a wheel of the vehicle for operating said noise maker.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a noise maker of the character described, means to render the noise maker inoperative to produce sound even While the vehicle is moving and the operating wheel is rotating.

A further object of this invention is to provide a noise maker of the character described comprising a casing which may be clamped to the frame of the vehicle with means to rotate cable means upon rotation of a wheel of a vehicle clamped to a fender of the vehicle and means, within the casing, controlled by rotation of the cable to produce noise.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a noise maker of the character described, a frame mounted on a wall of the casing and over a diaphragm and carrying a rotary member to be rotated by the cable with means thereon to strike the diaphragm repeatedly as the rotary member is rotated.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide in a noise maker of the character described, means to lift said frame above the diaphragm so that as said rotary member is rotated it will not strike the diaphragm.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable noise maker of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assembly and mount on a bicycle or like vehicle and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invent tion will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bicycle provided with a noise maker embodying the invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a vertical view at the inside of a vertical wall of the casing looking towards the opposite wall;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the power pick-up means of the noise maker shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a detail of the power pick-up means; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one casing mounting bracket shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a vehicle shown in dot dash lines on which is mounted a noise maker 11. The vehicle shown in the drawing for j the purpose of illustration only is in a form of bicycle United States Patent 0 3,266,455 Patented August 16, 1966 ice comprising a frame 12 having a rear post 13, a rear ground traction wheel '15 and a fender 16 for the periphery of said rear wheel. The fender 16 may be of usual construction and is of curved cross-section overlying the wheel 15. One end edge portion 17 of the fender is shown in FIG. 7 in the drawing.

Removably attached to post 13 are a pair of noise maker attaching brackets 18, FIG. 9. Bracket 18 comprises a post encircling portion 19, from which extends a pair of attaching fingers 19a, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. A nut and bolt assembly 18a and 18b tighten portion 19 about post 13. Fingers 19a are provided with suitable openings in which the casing is mounted, as Will appear more clearly hereinafter.

The noise maker 11 comprises a power pickup device 20 mounted on the fender 16 adjacent the periphery of wheel 15. Said pickup device 20 more specifically comprises a clamp 21, comprising a clamp member 22 having a flat wall 23 from which extends at right angles a wall 24 provided with a pair of parallel apertured ears 25. Wall 23 is formed with a pair of through openings 26 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

A second channel shaped clamp member 27 comprises a wall 28 parallel to Wall 23 and having flanges 29 and 30 at each end thereof, the edges of which flanges extend toward wall 23. Flange 30 is provided with teeth or.

serrations and wall 23 at its outer end also has teeth or serrations 31 extending toward the teeth on the flange 30. The end edge portion 17 of the fender is received between the clamp members 22 and 27. Said clamp members may be fixed together by a pair of bolts 33 passing through openings 34 in wall 28 and through the opening 26 in wall 23, to clamp the fender portion 17 therebetween.

The apertured ears 25 carry a cross pin 35 having a head 36 at one end and provided with a cotter pin or snap ring 37 or any other means to keep the pin 35 from sliding out of place. The pin 35 serves to pivotally connect the clamp 21 to a bearing member 40. Said bearing member 40 comprising a tubular sleeve 41 from which extends upwardly a web 42 carrying a sleeve 43 disposed at right angles to sleeve 41 and rotatively receiving the pin 35, sleeve 43 is disposed between the apertured ears 25. A torsion spring 44 mounted on pin 35 has one end engaged in an opening in web 42 and the opposite end engaging wall 24 of clamp member 22 and tends to rotate bearing member 40 in a counterclockwise direction relative to clamp 21, looking at FIG. 7.

Extending through bearing sleeve 41 is a spindle 45 provided near its outer end with an annular flange 46. Spindle 45 has a tubular extension 47 extending beyond the flange 46. Mounted on the extension 47 is an annular disc 48. Disc 48 is attached to flange 46 by a pair of hollow cross rivets 49. Interposed between the flange 46 and the disc 48 is a larger disc 50, an edge of which is adapted to contact the outer surface at the side of the tire of the wheel 15. The disc 50 is provided with a diametric slot 51 having a central enlarged portion 52. The rivets 49 pass through the ends of the slot 51, whereas the extension 47 passes through the central enlarged portion 52 of the slot. The contact member 50 may be made of any suitable rugged material such as hard rubber so as to make good frictional contact with the tire on the wheel.

A flexible cable 54 of any suitable construction passes through the longitudinal opening in the spindle 45, is then bent radially outwardly at 55, and then passes longitudinally through one of the rivets 49. The flexible cable has fixed thereto a push nut 57 at the inside of the rivet 49 and also a second push nut 58 at the inner end of the spindle 45. It will now be seen that when the bicycle is being ridden and the rear wheel 15 is rotating,

extending towards casing part 61.

the disc 50 will be rotating and will rotate the flexible cable 54. The use of the cable and push nuts will appear hereinafter.

The noise maker 11 further comprises a casing 60. Said casing 60 comprises a pair of vertically split matching complementary parts 61, 62. If desired, the casing :may have a shape of an engine of any kind or it may have any other suitable design. The casing 61 has a vertical wall 61a formed with an opening 63 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The parts 61, 62 also have end flanges 61b and 620 respectively which join the parts together, and are interposed between the fingers 19a of clamp 18 to mount the casing 60 on the post 13 of the frame 12 of the vehicle 10.

Casing 60 also has side walls 64 extending at right angles to the wall 62. The casing part 62 comprises a wall 66 opposed to wall 61a and from which extends side wall 65. The inner edges of walls 64 and 65 contact substantially at the vertical midsection of the casing, ending in flanges 61b and 62a as described above. The casing parts 61, 62 may be attached together in any desired, suitable manner. Wall 66 may be formed with an annular wall portion 68 provided with a number of openings 69. Extending inwardly from wall 66 is an integral flange 70, comprising a thin portion 71 circular for about 270 in extent. Extending from one end of the part circular thin wall 71 is a thin wall 72 terminating in an enlarged boss 73. At the other end of the part circular portion 71 is a boss 74 parallel to and aligned with the boss 73. Also extending from the thin wall 71 are a pair of radial bosses 75 and 76. Bosses 73, 74, 75 and 76 are formed with openings 77 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Mounted on the walls 71 and 72, and the bosses 73, 74, 75 and 76 is a diaphragm 80 which may be made of vulcanized fiber, or any other suitable material. The diaphragm 80 is parallel to the wall 68 and overlies the openings 69 in spaced relation thereto. Mounted on top of the diaphragm is a bracket member 85. Said bracket member 85 comprises a flat outwardly extending flange 86 resting on the upper edges of walls 71, 72 and bosses 73, 74, 75 and 76. Said flange 86 extends inwardly of the walls 71, 72. Extending upwardly from flange 86 is a flange 87 spaced inwardly from said Walls 71, 72 and bosses 73, 74, 75 and 76. Flange 87 comprises a portion 88 which substantially follows the wall 71. Molded together with the ends of the flange 86 is a wall 89 which is slightly inclined and extends towards casing part 61, and has tapered end edges 89a and 8%. Also molded together with flange 87 is a transverse wall 90 Wall 90 has tapered ends 90a and 90b, and serves to strengthen bracket 85 by joining flanges 86 and 88 as shown in FIG. 2. The walls 89 and 90 are formed at their upper ends with a pair of inwardly offset parallel portions 890, 90c. Said portions 890, 900 are formed with pairs of substantially semicircular openings 91, 92 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Extending through the openings 91 is a sleeve 93 carrying a gear 94 disposed between walls 89, 90. The flexible cable 54 passes through the sleeve 93 and the sleeve may be crimped or clamped to the cable so as to rotate therewith. It will now be understood that when the cable 54 is rotated in response to the rotation of the wheel 15, sleeve 93 and hence gear 94 will also be rotated. Any suitable means may be provided to prevent the sleeve 93 from coming out of its bearing openings 91.

Rotatably mounted in openings 92 is a cross shaft 96 parallel to sleeve 93 and carrying a pinion 97 meshing with the gear 94. Shaft 96 extends beyond wall 90 and mounted thereon is a diametric bar 99. Fixed to bar 99 is a second bar 100 parallel and aligned therewith. The bars 99 and 100 are interconnected or fixed together by a pair of parallel cross pins 101. Rotatably mounted on each cross pin 101 is a ring 102. The opening in the rings are considerably larger than the diameters of the cross pins 101. As the shaft 96 is rotated, the integrated bars or carrier 99, 100 will rotate, causing the rings 102 to successively strike the diaphragm to make noise simulating the sound of an internal combustion engine.

The bracket is connected to the casing part 62 by means of drive screws of other fastening members 105. The drive screws 105 are loosely passed through suitable openings in the flanges S6, and enter the openings 77 in the bosses 73, 74, 75 and 76. These fastening members have heads 106 spaced above the flange 86. Coiled compressed springs 107 are interposed between the flange 86 and the heads 105. The springs 107 thus keep the bracket 85 and the diaphragm 80 on flange 71 and the bosses 73, 74, 75 and 76. Means is provided to lift the bracket 85 so that even if the wheel of the bicycle is rotating no noise will be made. To this end, flange 88 is formed with a pair of inwardly extending hooks 110. A rod 111 has a portion 112 disposed between the hooks and carries a cross pin 113 engaging beneath the hooks 110. The rod 111 passes through the opening 63 in casing part 61. Said rod is formed on one side thereon with a notch 115 providing a shoulder 116. The rod 111 at its lower end has a shoulder 117 overlying the upper edge of flange 88. If it is desired not to make noise even when the bicycle is driven, the operator can pull the rod 111 outwardly and then tilt the rod slightly to engage the shoulder 116 with the edge of the casing 61a, thus lifting the bracket upwardly sufliciently so that the rings 102 will not strike the diaphragm.

Casing Wall 62 is also formed with three pins 120 which guide the bracket 85 in this movement toward and away from diaphragm 80 by contacting the outer edges of flange 86.

The motor fits various size bicycles, due to the method of assembly of the flexible drive cable to the rotating device clamped to the rear fender.

The apparatus described herein is intended to be sold with the cable 54 not assembled to the spindle 45. The cable 54 is sold with enough length to fit the largest bicycles. The push nut 58, before the assembly, may be back near the casing 60 and outside thereof. The purchaser, after mounting the casing 60 on the rear post 13, and mounting the clamp 21 on the fender 16, slips the front end of the spindle forwardly through sleeve 41 and then threads the free end of the cable through the spindle 45 and draws the cable taut. The push nut 58 is then pushed rearwardly against the front end of the spindle 45 so that the spindle will not come out of the sleeve. The cable is then bent radially outwardly as at 55 and then forwardly through an eyelet rivet 49. Another push nut 57 is fitted onto the outer free end and pushed against the front end of said eyelet 49. The excess cable may then be snipped ofl. These push nuts 57 and 58 may be pushed in one direction, but will grip the cable to prevent them from being pushed back. Such push nuts are known commercially as Pal Nuts or Tinnerman Nuts. The turned back U portion of the cable must turn as contact disc 50 rotates to thereby rotate the cable 54. Thus a drive for the cable is provided without pre-assembly to the power pickup 20.

It will thus be seen that thereis provided an apparatus and article in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth and shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim.

1. In a noise maker for use With a Vehicle comprising a frame and a ground traction wheel rotatably mounted aaeaass thereon, the combination comprising power pickup means, means to releasably clamp said power pickup means on said vehicle adjacent the periphery of said wheel, said power pickup means having a rotary portion adapted to drivingly engage said periphery of said Wheel, means urging said portion into driving engagement with the periphery of said wheel, a casing, means to removably mount said casing on a portion of said frame spaced from said wheel, noise making means, means to mount said noise making means within said casing, flexible power transmission means connected to said rotary portion of said power pickup means, means controlled by said power transmission mean to actuate said noise making means, and means to render said noise making means inoperative to make noise while said power pickup means picks up power.

2. In a noise maker for use with a vehicle comprising a frame and a ground traction wheel rotatably mounted thereon, the combination comprising power pickup means, means to releasably clamp said power pickup means on said vehicle adjacent the periphery of said wheel, said power pickup means having a rotary portion adapted to drivingly engage said periphery of said wheel, means urging said portion into driving engagement with the periphery of said wheel, a casing, means to removably mount said casing on a portion of said frame spaced from said wheel, noise making means, means to mount said noise making means Within said casing, flexible power transmission means connected to said rotary portion of said power pickup means, means controlled by said power transmission means to actuate said noise making means, said power transmission means comprising a flexible cable, means on said pickup means drivingly engaging one end of said cable, a gear drivingly connected to the other end of said cable, a pinion driven by said gear, and means connected to said pinion for operating said noise making actuating means.

3. The combination of claim 1, said casing being provided with a plurality of bosses, said noise making means comprising a diaphragm mounted on said bosses, said noise maker mounting means comprising a bracket member mounted on said diaphragm and said bosses, said noise making means further comprising rotary means mounted on said bracket member for striking said diaphragm, and said means to render said noise making means inoperative to make noise comprising means to move said bracket member on said bosses away from said diaphragm.

4. In a noise maker for use with a Wheeled vehicle, the combination comprising power pickup means, means to mount said pickup means on said vehicle, a casing, means to mount said casing on said vehicle, a flexible drive cable having one end connected to said power pickup means, said power pickup means comprising a disc, means to urge said disc into driving contact with a wheel of said vehicle, said one end of said cable being fixed to said disc for concurrent rotation therewith, said casing having mounting means formed on an inside surface thereof, a diaphragm, means to mount said diaphragm on said mounting means, a bracket, means to mount said bracket on said mounting means, said bracket mounting means comprising means to permit said bracket to move with respect to said diaphragm, said bracket comprising a pair of substantially parallel walls disposed within said casing substantially perpendicular to said diaphragm; means to mount the other end of said cable for rotation on and between said walls, and in spaced relation to said diaphragm, and having a gear mounted thereon; a shaft mounted on said walls in spaced parallel relation to said means for mounting said other end of said cable, and having a pinion mounted thereon, said pinion meshing with said gear, a member mounted on said shaft and comprising striker elements loosely mounted thereon and adapted to successively strike said diaphragm upon rotation of said member only when said bracket is closely adjacent said diaphragm.

5. In combination, a clamp means, a bearing member pivotally connected to said clamp means, a spindle rotatably mounted within said bearing member, said spindle comprising a radial flange formed thereon in spaced relation to one end thereof, a disc mounted on said one end of said spindle in spaced relation to said flange, a friction drive disc interposed between said flange and said disc, and rivet means interconnecting said flange, disc and friction drive disc.

6. The combination of claim 5, said spindle and said rivets being hollow, a cable, said cable passing axially outwardly through said spindle and out beyond said one end thereof, thence radially outwardly, thence axially inwardly through said disc, friction disc, and flange, and means to secure the end of the cable from pulling out of said hollow rivet.

7. In combination, noise making means, a flexible cable, means at one end of the flexible cable and controlled by rotation of said cable to actuate said noise making means, a bearing, a spindle journalled in the bearing, the other end of the cable passing through said spindle, a rotary friction contact disc fixed on said spindle, and said cable having a portion extending radially of the axis of the spindle and a portion extending from said radially extending portion and attached to said spindle.

8. In combination, a clamp means, a bearing member, means to mount said bearing member on said clamp means, a tubular spindle rotatably mounted within said bearing member, a radial flange on said spindle, a disc, means to attach sa-id disc to said flange in spaced relation thereto and coaxial of said spindle, a friction drive disc interposed between said flange and said first mentioned disc, the means for attaching said first mentioned disc to said flange comprising a plurality of rivets at least one of which is tubular, said friction drive disc being formed with a slot through which a plurality of said rivets pass, a cable, said cable passing axially through said spindle and beyond one end thereof, thence radially outwardly, and thence axially through said tubular rivet, and means to secure the end of the cable from pulling out of said tubular rivet.

9. The combination of claim 8, and means on said cable radially overlapping said bearing to prevent the spindle from sliding out of the bearing in one direction.

10. In combination, a casing, mounting means formed in a Wall of said casing, a diaphragm on said mounting means, a bracket on said diaphragm, noise making means mounted on said bracket including means to strike said diaphragm, means including spring means for resiliently holding said bracket and diaphragm on said mounting means and means to retain said bracket'in a position, against the force of said spring means, spaced with respect to said mounting means and diaphragm, to space the noise making means from the diaphragm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 618,107 1/1899 Kraushaar 116-61 631,325 10/1899 Rockwell 116-158 979,061 12/1910 Oodd 116-143 1,175,850 3/1916 Welker 116-59 1,213,469 1/1917 Fessler 116-158 1,384,977 7/1921 Silvia 116-59 1,500,328 7/1924 Lester 116-59 1,571,695 2/ 1926 Beliveau 116-59 1,605,500 11/1926 Berge 74-12 1,835,452 12/1931 Armstrong 116-56 2,620,764 12/ 1952 Cook 116-56 2,660,973 12/ 1953 Portlance 116-56 2,979,020 4/ 1961 Von Radics 116-57 3,054,377 9/ 1962 Scott 116-61 LOUIS I. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A NOISE MAKER FOR USE WITH A VEHICLE COMPRISING A FRAME AND A GROUND TRACTION WHEEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED THEREON, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING POWER PICKUP MEANS, MEANS TO RELEASABLY CLAMP SAID POWER PICKUP MEANS ON SAID VEHICLE ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID WHEEL, SAID POWER PICKUP MEANS HAVING A ROTARY PORTION ADAPTED TO DRIVINGLY ENGAGE SAID PERIPHERY OF SAID WHEEL, MEANS URGING SAID PORTION INTO DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PERIPHERY OF SAID WHEEL, A CASING, MEANS TO REMOVABLY MOUNT SAID CASING ON A PORTION OF SAID FRAME SPACED FROM SAID WHEEL, NOISE MAKING MEANS, MEANS TO MOUNT SAID NOISE MAKING MEANS WITHIN SAID CASING, FLEXIBLE POWER TRANSMISSION MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ROTARY PORTION OF SAID POWER PICKUP MEANS, MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID POWER TRANSMISSION MEANS TO ARCUATE SAID NOISE MAKING MEANS, AND MEANS TO RENDER SAID NOISE MAKING MEANS INOPERATIVE TO MAKE NOISE WHILE SAID POWER PICKUP MEANS PICKS UP POWER. 